LA Galaxy break LAFC hearts with 2-2 draw in El Trafico Rematch

LOS ANGELES, CA - JULY 26: Los Angeles FC midfielder Lee Nguyen (24) celebrates his goal in the first half during a MLS match between the Los Angeles FC and the Los Angeles Galaxy July 26, 2018 at Banc of California Stadium, in Los Angeles. (Photo by Kyusung Gong/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

LOS ANGELES, Calif. (July 2, 2018) – LA Galaxy found a way to get a result in the El Trafico rematch on Thurday night. Despite going down two goals in the first 20 minutes, goals from Romain Alessandrini and Ola Kamara salvaged a point.

LA Galaxy break LAFC hearts with 2-2 draw in El Trafico Rematch

Just seven minutes in, the home side got on the board. LAFC were buzzing around the box with two consecutive chances that Adama Diomande almost got a chance on. Diomande ultimately got the ball after a cross sailed through the box. He sent it in front of goal and Carlos Vela finished with an uncontested header.

In the 20th minute, Lee Nguyen got on the scoreboard. Mark-Anthony Kaye won a free kick in the final third and had to come out with an injury. After the delay, Nguyen went short side just over the wall and inside the near post to score. The half ended 2-0.

The Galaxy struggled throughout the match, getting overrun in midfield with their wide players unable to win their head-to-head matchups. On the other side, LAFC was dominating offensively with Diomande and others getting good chances but having trouble finishing.

Against the run of play and out of nowhere, the Galaxy pulled one back in the 82nd minute. With some decent build-up play, Zlatan Ibrahimovic found Romain Alessandrini in front of goal who was able to score, putting the ball just inside the post.

Tyler Miller had the save of the night just minutes later. On a cross into the box, Zlatan deflected it down to Ola Kamara, who appeared to have an open net, but Miller made the save diving to his right. Kamara would have the last laugh though.

In the 86th minute, Andre Horta on his debut passed the ball from midfield all the way back to goal. Kamara ran onto it, rounded Miller and scored to tie the game. It would end 2-2.

Three takeaways:

Poor starts: Just like in the first El Trafico, the Galaxy started very poorly. The defense and center midfielders continue to get overrun. It caused a lot of problems and directly led to both goals.

Poor finishes: A talented team plays well, dominates the game, doesn’t finish their chances when they could have iced the game, then it comes back to haunt them. LAFC remembers that feeling. Just like the first El Trafico, they had a fantastic 60 minutes and a very poor final 15 minutes.

Tyler Miller taketh away, Tyler Miller giveth: Miller has been at the center of this derby on so many levels. He was scapegoated in the first. He made several key saves early to preserve a lead. He almost certainly won the game in denying Kamara, then a mistake by him and Horta cost the game.